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UNITED STATES ATENT OEEicE.

MARSHALL G. LEFFERTS, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GELLULOIDMANUFAGTURIN G COMPANY.

PROCESS OF PRINTING UPON 0R DECORATING THE SURFACE OF CELLULOID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,376, dated July 27,1886.

Serial No. 187,016. (Specimens) T 0 all wftom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAEsIL-TLL O. LE'EEE RTS, a citizen of the UnitedStates. and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in theProcess of Printing upon or Decorating the Surface of Celluloid, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved process of printing or decorating asurface of celluloid or analogous compound of pyroxyline. It may be usedin connection with any compound having the characteristics of celluloid.

The invention consists in printing upon or otherwise applying to thepyroxyline surface, in a suitable ink or color, the desired design, andafterward subjecting the surface and im pression thereon to heat andpressure, as hereinafter more fully described.

To illustrate and explain my process, I will first describe thetreatment of a piece of material in the form of a thin sheet.

Having applied the designto the sheet, by means of a press or otherwise,I place the sheet bearing the impression in what is known as asteam-table press, with the printed face of the sheet in contact with apolished plate or loid surface. Arranged in this way, the sheet and theimpression it bears are subjected to the proper degree of heat andpressure-say from one hundred and eighty (180) to two hundred and thirty(230) degrees Fahrenheitfo r about a minute, the pressure being aboutsix hun dred pounds to the square inch. In working sheets of thethickness of one-sixteenth of an inch, or of greater thickness, thepressure will not be so great, only that degree of pressure beingrequired which may be necessary to flow the surface of the sheet andeffect a satisfactory impression. Ifthe sheet is thin, it will bedesirable to back it up with a layer or layers of blottingpaper or otherelastic material, for the purpose of preventing or correctinginaccuracies and defects, which are likely to be caused by anyinequality or irregularity in the plate or sheet. Toprevent the sheetfrom adhering to the backing, a layer of any non-adhesive substancesuchas metal, tin-foil, or celluwhich has been properly oiled or lubricatedmay be interposed.

If desired to impart a finished or calendered surface to both sides ofthe sheet, the desired object may be accomplished by a sheet of polishedmetal, which will be placed in contact with the reverse side of thesheet of celluloid.

In treating thick pieces of material there is danger of the heat andpressure causing the material to flow, whereby the impression will beblurred or distorted. This danger I obviate by performing the operationin a die or receptacle in which the material is so closely and compactlyfitted that its shape is preserved, and any displacement of thedecorated surface thus prevented. Any die or mold which will prevent achange in the surface that carries the impression may he made use of.

My process is useful in connection with all kinds of printing, and inusing the word design I intend to include every species of impression,simple or complex, in the whole range of the printcrs art. Inks ofdifferent kinds may be used. The only requirement is, that the ink shallbe of such a nature that a sharply-defined impression can be produced,and of such strength or density that a small quantity only isnecessarily used to give the desired impression. Inks which spreadeasily, or which require to be used freely, are not desirable. I havefound that excellent results may be obtained with aniline ink, such asis used for rubber stamps in office-work. I do not, however, confinemyself to the use of an ink of any particular kind; nor do I limit myclaim to any particular method of printing; nor to the use of plates,types, or stamps of any particular kind. The nature of the ink andmanner of causing the application of the design may be greatly varied,according to circumstances and the results that are desired.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The process hereinbefore described of applying a design to a surfaceof celluloid or analogous compound, which consists in, first, applyingthe design to the surface, and, second, subjecting the surface bearingthe design to heat and pressure, substantially as described.

2. The process herein described of applying a design to a surfaceofcelluloid or analogous compound, which consists in, first, printing orotherwise applying the design in ink or color, and, second, subjectingthe surface bearing the design to the action of heat and pressure whileit is in contact with a polished surface, substantially as described.

3. The process herein described of applying a design to sheets ofcelluloid or analogous COIllpound, which consis's in, first, applyingthe design in an ink or color, and, second, subjecting the sheet, whileinterposed between an elastic backing and a polished surface, to theaction of heat and pressure, substantially as set forth.

4. The process of applying a design to a surfined, substantially as setforth.

Signed at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, this19th day of December, A. D. 1885.

MARSHALL G. LEFFERTS.

Witnesses:

ISAAC F. Ron, ABRAHAM MANNERS.

